administration. and this administration has not yet asked congress for a renewal of trade promotion authority despite the fact that that t.p.a. expired over five years ago. the cost of inaction on trade is high because today we live in a global economy where american producers rely on access to foreign markets. more than 95% of global consumers live outside the united states. consider that in 1960 exports accounted for only 3.6% of u.s. g.d.p. today exports account for 12.5% of our g.d.p. exports of u.s. goods and services support over 10 million american jobs. if we do not aggressively pursue new market opening agreements on behalf of american workers, we will see new export opportunities go to foreign businesses and foreign workers. so while i'm pleased that we're considering pntr today, i hope that president obama in his second term will recognize the potential for increased trade opportunities through a more aggressive trade agenda. i look forward to the president signing this legislation into la